calling debate preparations a bit of a drag. saying his campaign team is making him do his homework. downplaying the expectations. we heard a lot of that from both sides. joined now by former new hampshire governor john sununu. he served as chief of staff under george w. bush. i read a quote from a white house spokesperson and she says he hasn't had time, the president because of the demands of the office, to work too much on debate preparation. what are your thoughts on that? >> spin, spin, spin. let him start spinning why his 3 1/2 years have been a failure. this is an important event. debates are important. the two candidates will stand side by side and the voters are going to get a chance to evaluate. and i can't believe how hard the white house is working to spin that the president, a, is not very goods, and b, that he had no chance to prepare. that's called buying two insurance policies in case he sceud up in the debate the way he screwed up as president. martha: your candidate has been dragging in ohio, michigan, and he's